“In Their Own Words” Books Unbanned Report Details the Impact of Censorship on Young People
release date: April 11, 2024
Thousands of Books Unbanned stories shared with Brooklyn Public Library and The Seattle Public Library highlight the struggles of young people in accessing what they want to read
A 13-year-old from Arkansas who wasn’t allowed to use Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” for a book report. A 16-year-old from Idaho who was scared to check out LGBTQIA+ books from their library, “because I don't want anyone to find out.” A 15-year-old from Ohio whose school library was “entirely cleared out and locked in a closet.”
These are just a few of the stories from young people affected by the compounding impacts of book bans and limited access to reading material featured in a new report released by Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and The Seattle Public Library (SPL), which published on www.BooksUnbanned.com today.
Two years after the launch of Books Unbanned, an initiative to protect the freedom to read for young people, “In Their Own Words: Youth Voices on Books Unbanned” gives new insight into the impact of censorship on teen and young adults across the United States and how restrictions and other barriers to access build upon and reinforce each other.
“In an era of unprecedented challenges to the freedom to read, this report offers a chance to hear directly from the youth who are most affected,” said Tom Fay, Chief Librarian of The Seattle Public Library. “Their stories document, in heartbreaking and hopeful detail, both the serious impacts of censorship attempts and how programs like Books Unbanned are providing joy, representation and escape for a new generation of readers.”
“In Their Own Words” analyzes 855 stories shared by young people, ages 13 to 26, who signed up for a free Books Unbanned e-card from either BPL or SPL from April 2022 through December 2023. University of Washington Information School graduate students categorized and tagged the stories to identify common themes. The stories analyzed for the report are a subset of thousands that the two libraries have received in the past two years from every state in the nation, as well as D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico.
A key theme uncovered in the analysis was how formal acts of censorship, bans, challenges and restrictions to reading material can create a climate of fear and intimidation for young people. Cardholders also mentioned the impact of more “hidden” forms of censorship — self-censorship, soft or “quiet” censorship (pre-emptively restricting access as a means to avoid controversy), or the threat of future censorship — in affecting their freedom to read. Young people told stories of librarians commenting on their checkouts, of books being locked up and unavailable, and of small, limited collections not containing the kinds of books they would most like to read.
Some cardholders reported the lack of access to representative materials, especially for LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) cardholders, and how it exacerbated feelings of isolation and the sense that their identities are under attack. For these young people, digital access to books is essential to the ability to read freely.
“Books are often challenged because of misplaced concerns around harm to young people,” said Nick Higgins, Chief Librarian of Brooklyn Public Library. “But young people who have signed up for Books Unbanned tell a very different story – that the real harm is caused by censorship and limiting access to books that mirror their experiences and expand their understanding of the world.”
Another highlighted theme was the impact of barriers beyond censorship and restrictions, including limited collections, transportation and distance issues, lack of accessibility, and sometimes lack of any library at all. “I live in a rural community and the only library we have in our area is my school,” said a 15-year-old from Illinois. “The library is closed during summer, so I was hoping to use your services then.”
The analysis included stories from more than 200 renewing cardholders, many of whom expressed the hope and joy that having access to books and information provides. They told of finding representation, of being able to access educational materials, and of opening up “my views of the world,” as a 24-year-old in California wrote.
The ability to read digitally provided a critical sense of safety for some. “There are books that I cannot take home because they would put me in danger,” wrote a 19-year-old from Virginia. “Reading digitally allows me to keep myself safe but still give[s] me the ability to read freely.”
The report concluded with an urgent call to pay attention to young people’s voices on why the freedom to read is essential, writing that, “The rising numbers of book bans and challenges serve as a clear warning sign of what we stand to lose if censorship is left unchallenged. The voices of these young readers are showing us what has already been lost.”
Or, as an 18-year-old Books Unbanned cardholder from California wrote: “In my opinion, the freedom to read is directly correlated with the freedom to think, and should never be denied anybody.”
In March 2024, The American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom reported that 2023 saw a record number of efforts to censor library books and resources, with more than 4,200 unique titles targeted for censorship, a 65% increase compared to 2022.
ABOUT BOOKS UNBANNED
Books Unbanned was started by Brooklyn Public Library in April 2022 to protect the right to read and fight censorship by offering a free library card for teens and young adults around the nation. Their card provides access to its entire digital collection of e-books and e-audiobooks for youth 13 to 21.
The Seattle Public Library joined Books Unbanned card in April 2023 by offering a free e-card for teens and young adults ages 13 to 26 across the U.S., which allows access to its digital collections. SPL’s Books Unbanned program is privately funded by The Seattle Public Library Foundation.
More than 14,000 young people had signed up for Books Unbanned programs at the two libraries through February 2024, collectively checking out over 340,000 books. Books Unbanned cardholders have signed up from every state in the nation, as well as D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico.
Three more public libraries have joined the Books Unbanned initiative, including Boston Public Library, San Diego Public Library and LA County Public Library. You can see updates on the program at www.BooksUnbanned.com.
ABOUT BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. Providing innovative library service for over 125 years, we support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.
ABOUT THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Located in one of just two UNESCO Cities of Literature in the U.S., The Seattle Public Library believes that the power of knowledge improves people's lives. We promote literacy and a love of reading as we bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. We support intellectual freedom and uphold the right of all people to freely and confidentially access information as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.